Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-20
NORFOLK
rRs CAPTURE os DESPERATE sgoRo
MuRDEaka
A Dwelling Rouse Barnei-Negro
Drowned Found Dead In
Vessels Hold

lCorrospondencc Of the Richmond Dispaschl
JANUARY 10, 1887.
This morning about 30 o'clock
desperate fugitive negro murderer
named Randall Watson, from Greens
Vile county, wes captured by squad
of police in n house on Metcalf lane
and lodged in jail. Constable Walker
Of Rickdord, arrived here last night in
search OF Watson, whom he knew TO be
in Norfolk, and sought the assistance of
fhe police. Assistant Chief Mordica
and a detachment surrounded the house
indicated and captured Watson as he
ran through the back yard almost
naked, with his clothing thrown over
his arm. Watson killed negro man in
Hicksford on Christmas-day SIMPLY be-
cause the wife Of the murdered man de-
sired it.. He is also wanted for TIVE
murders in North Carolina, committed
some years ago. To-day Constable
Walker left on the Seaboard tram with
his prisoner for Hicksford.
On Monday night the residence of
Nr. Thomas johnson, near Margaretts-
vile, on the Seaboard and Roanoke
railroad, was totally destroyed by fire,
together with its contents. There was
NO insurance ON the property, and it Is
supposed a tramp accidentally started
the fire.
William Bess is the name of the man
drowned by the capsizing of the sloop
Barney Kayton during sqnall IN the
harbor yesterday afternoon.
The friends of Sandy Dean, who
suddenly disappeared and was supposed
10 have been drowned in Taylor's dock,
have received information from Balti-
more that the body of Dean had been
found in the hold of a schooner from
this city to Baltimore.
CHIEF Engineer Kevill is resting easy
and will soon begin to impro0e. His
leg WAS broken in two places.
The people Of Baltimore so far have
sent S555 TO the destitute families OF
the drowned life-savers.
The City Council of Portsmouth at
its meeting last night postponed action
until March on the application of the
Atlantic and Danvile Railroad Com
pany to order an election in Ports
mouth on the question of subscribing
s15O,00O to the stock of the road. The
president of the road, Mr.. Tillar, then
withdrew the application and aban-
doned Portsmouth az the eastern ter
minus. Ii is said the company will
now apply 10 the Councils of Norfolk.
All the ship-carpenters but ten were
discharged from the maynard last
night.
This morning Major A. S. Nicholson,
adjutant and inspector-general of the
United States Marine Corps, arrived
here from Washington and gave the
barracks at the yard and the marine
guard on the receiving-ship Franklin
the semi-annual inspection. There are
only two companies of marines at the
barracks now, with Captain II. A. Bart
lett i'll command.
A colored man named james Butts,
working at Tunis's sawmiu IN the
county. opposite the maynard, was
thrown into the river from n raft yes
terday and drowned. Several hands
have been drowned at this mill within
year.
The people of the county are agi-
tated over TIE removal of the court
house from Portsmouth to the county
centre. The supervisors have selected
the site and advertised for proposals to
build a new courthouse and Jail. A
meeting was held at Deep Creek night
before last and q committee appointed
to sue out an injunction TO stop the re-
moval. The Tanner Greek and West
ern-Branch sections threaten to divide
the county if the removal is made.
Yet the people of the county, by a
large majority, voted to remove the
court- bOuse. q.